Yesterday I thought it was time for a different kind of adventure and location. The White Pine Hollow State Park near Luxemburg, Iowa is not very far from home and I haven't been there for a while. What I always liked about this rugged area is that you can't drive in. It bares a tranquility I haven't found in any other area around here. Gorgeous spring weather with fast moving clouds made for constantly changing light. It was the right time of season to revisit this wonderful area again because thousands of wildflowers were blooming. From the little parking lot on the East side of the park you can walk down to the river. The walls of the canyon and the fresh green of the surrounding trees were mirrored on the water. I put the tripod legs in the sand of the river and made this "artsy-fartsy" picture. I remembered that I had tried this before but never caught the light as today.
- Spring Beauty
My lens of choice today was the Sigma 150/f2.8 with a 1.4x teleconverter attached. Why this combination? In the White Pine Hollow State Park is always a good chance to see some White-tailed Deer. I knew I would mainly focus on close-up pictures yesterday and the Sigma 150/f2.8 is a sharp lens for this kind of photography. With the teleconverter attached it still leaves the door open for a deer or other wildlife shot. I also love the shallow depth of field it can provide.
In the most parts of this forest are no trails but it is not difficult to move around. However, it was hard not to step on a wildflower. There were huge patches of Spring Beauty all over.
Many flowers, like Hepatica and Dutchmans Breeches, that are gone behind our house already, were still blooming here. Different kinds of violets and anemones were in full bloom on the forest floor.
- Rue Anemone
Cooper, our little dog, was a patient companion when I laid on my stomach and tried to get a low angle for the picture. He probably thought, what a silly guy...